Israel intends to improve air quality in Haifa through the introduction of electric buses, as BYD has just won the first major supply contract for 17 single-decker, 12 meter buses.

BYD wins first major ebus contract in Israel

And even higher volume orders could be just around the corner, as Egged - the company that bought these first buses, currently operates almost 3,000 buses in the country.

Each bus is expected to cover 200 km (124 miles) daily, (with A/C on we believe).

"The buses were purchased after BYD won a competitive tender process. The success follows trials of a BYD single decker which has been operating in Tel Aviv, Israel’s second largest city, since 2013."

Ze’ev Elkin, Israel’s Minister of Environmental Protection, said:

“It’s the beginning of a revolution in the Haifa area which aims to reduce pollution coming from public transportation through the planned investment of 400 million Shekels (€93.6 million)”.

Yisrael Katz, Minister of Transport, said:

“These buses are just the beginning. We aim to introduce green transportation in the Haifa area and around the country”.

Isbrand Ho, Managing Director of BYD Europe, commented:

“This is a very significant development for BYD – a new country for us which recognises the strength of the BYD product. And it’s important to note that it’s the good experience over four years of our trial bus in Tel Aviv that led to this week’s announcement. The proven technology following our existing orders and extensive trials programme will lead us to further sales success in many of the cities in our region that are only now implementing the green transportation that we see in Haifa”.